Alert archive / Oklahoma / Flash Flood Warnings in 2015

Flash Flood Warning 39, NWS Tulsa, OK

May 19, 2015Crawford County, Sebastian County, Arkansas; Latimer County, LeFlore County, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma

NWS Tulsa, OK issued this flash flood warning at May 19, 2015, 11:50 PM CDT for Crawford County, Sebastian County, Arkansas; Latimer County, LeFlore County, Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. It was in force for 5 hr. 7 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 19, 2015, 11:50 PM CDT (04:50 UTC)
Expired
May 20, 2015, 5:00 AM CDT
In force
5 hr
Issued by
NWS Tulsa, OK
Area
Storm-based polygon
Flood severity
None

Counties Crawford County, AR, Sebastian County, AR, Latimer County, OK, LeFlore County, OK, Sequoyah County, OK

The radar

The Western Arkansas radar (KSRX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 20, 12:52 AM CDTFLASH FLOODSallisaw, OKREPORTED IN TOWN.
May 20, 1:43 AM CDTFLASH FLOODTalihina, OKLAW ENFORCEMENT CLOSING ROADWAYS DUE TO HIGH WATER IN THE TALIHINA AREA.
May 20, 2:53 AM CDTFLASH FLOODTalihina, OKNUMEROUS BUILDINGS IN TOWN HAVE FLOOD WATERS IN THEM...INCLUDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WITH 6 INCHES OF WATER...THE CHOCTAW NATION HOSPITAL...AND A NURSING HOME. RELAYED BY COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
May 20, 3:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODLavaca, ARAPARTMENT COMPLEX EVACUATED AT 3 AM DUE TO OVERFLOWING CREEK. WATER 2-3 INCHES DEEP IN SOME APARTMENTS. WATER RECEDED BY 5 AM.
May 20, 4:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODFort Smith, ARFORT SMITH PAVILION...RETAINING WALL COLLAPSED RESULTING IN THE FLOODING OF THREE BUSINESSES.
May 20, 4:18 AM CDTFLASH FLOOD1 E Fort Smith, ARHIGHWAY 255 SECTION2 AT MILE 2.2 CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER
May 20, 5:00 AM CDTFLASH FLOODTalihina, OKSCHOOLS CLOSED DUE TO HIGH WATER.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The nearest sounding before it

Springfield, MO (KSGF), launched 00:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 207 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2015-05-20Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Springfield, MO at 00:00Z on 2015-05-20The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 136 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1208 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
39 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
136 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
205 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

832 
WGUS54 KTSA 200450
FFWTSA
ARC033-131-OKC077-079-135-201000-
/O.NEW.KTSA.FF.W.0039.150520T0450Z-150520T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
FLASH FLOOD WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
1150 PM CDT TUE MAY 19 2015

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TULSA HAS ISSUED A

* FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR...
  EASTERN SEQUOYAH COUNTY IN EAST CENTRAL OKLAHOMA...
  LE FLORE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
  SEBASTIAN COUNTY IN WEST CENTRAL ARKANSAS...
  SOUTHEASTERN LATIMER COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST OKLAHOMA...
  SOUTHERN CRAWFORD COUNTY IN NORTHWEST ARKANSAS...

* UNTIL 500 AM CDT

* AT 1148 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR            
  INDICATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE WARNED AREA. 
  AROUND AN INCH OF RAINFALL HAS ALREADY OCCURRED WITH AN ADDITIONAL 
  1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE.  

* RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
  OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT COULD EXPERIENCE FLOODING INCLUDE...
  CEDARVILLE...FORT SMITH...POTEAU...SALLISAW...VAN BUREN...ALMA...
  ARKOMA...BARLING...BENGAL...BLOOMER...BOKOSHE...BONANZA...BRUSHY...
  BRUSHY LAKE STATE PARK...BURNVILLE...CAMERON...DYER...EXCELSIOR...
  FANSHAWE...FIGURE FIVE...FORT SMITH REGIONAL AIRPORT...GANS...
  GREENWOOD...HACKETT...HARTFORD...HEAVENER...HEAVENER RUNESTONE
  STATE PARK...HOWE...HUNTINGTON AND JENNY LIND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD TO
UNKNOWN DEPTHS. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY
MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO
REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...
MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

&&

LAT...LON 3515 9414 3510 9414 3507 9425 3496 9424
      3492 9444 3472 9445 3469 9510 3487 9506
      3487 9502 3493 9504 3498 9493 3521 9492
      3521 9482 3564 9485 3563 9407 3546 9405
      3542 9408 3522 9408 3521 9403 3514 9403

$$
2 follow-up statements
502 
WGUS74 KTSA 200811
FFSTSA

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
311 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2015

ARC033-131-OKC077-079-135-201000-
/O.CON.KTSA.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-150520T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CRAWFORD AR-SEBASTIAN AR-LE FLORE OK-SEQUOYAH OK-LATIMER OK-
311 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN LATIMER...
EASTERN SEQUOYAH...LE FLORE...SEBASTIAN AND SOUTHERN CRAWFORD
COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CDT...

AT 307 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THAT THE HEAVIEST RAIN HAS ENDED ACROSS THE WARNED AREA...BUT 
ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINFALL WILL 
REMAIN POSSIBLE THIS MORNING...ESPECIALLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL 
LE FLORE COUNTY. 2 TO 4 INCHES OF RAINFALL HAS ALREADY OCCURRED WITH 
AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. EXTENSIVE FLOODING HAS BEEN 
REPORTED IN TALIHINA...WITH WATER ENTERING NUMEROUS BUILDINGS AND 
ROAD CLOSURES. THE FLOODING IN TALIHINA WILL ONLY WORSEN WITH THE 
HEAVIEST RAINS LIKELY TO AFFECT THAT AREA THROUGH 5 AM.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
CEDARVILLE...FORT SMITH...POTEAU...SALLISAW...VAN BUREN...ALMA...
ARKOMA...BARLING...BENGAL...BLOOMER...BOKOSHE...BONANZA...BRUSHY...
BRUSHY LAKE STATE PARK...BURNVILLE...CAMERON...DYER...EXCELSIOR...
FANSHAWE...FIGURE FIVE...FORT SMITH REGIONAL AIRPORT...GANS...
GREENWOOD...HACKETT...HARTFORD...HEAVENER...HEAVENER RUNESTONE STATE
PARK...HOWE...HUNTINGTON AND JENNY LIND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD TO
UNKNOWN DEPTHS. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY
MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO
REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...
MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

&&

LAT...LON 3515 9414 3510 9414 3507 9425 3496 9424
      3492 9444 3472 9445 3469 9510 3487 9506
      3487 9502 3493 9504 3498 9493 3521 9492
      3521 9482 3564 9485 3563 9407 3546 9405
      3542 9408 3522 9408 3521 9403 3514 9403

$$
086 
WGUS74 KTSA 200904
FFSTSA

FLASH FLOOD STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TULSA OK
404 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2015

ARC033-131-OKC077-079-135-201000-
/O.CON.KTSA.FF.W.0039.000000T0000Z-150520T1000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
CRAWFORD AR-SEBASTIAN AR-LE FLORE OK-SEQUOYAH OK-LATIMER OK-
404 AM CDT WED MAY 20 2015

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR SOUTHEASTERN LATIMER...
EASTERN SEQUOYAH...LE FLORE...SEBASTIAN AND SOUTHERN CRAWFORD
COUNTIES UNTIL 500 AM CDT...

AT 402 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED 
THUNDERSTORMS WITH VERY HEAVY RAIN ACROSS CENTRAL LE FLORE 
COUNTY...WITH LIGHTER RAINS ACROSS THE REST OF THE WARNED AREA. 2 TO 
5 OF RAINFALL HAS ALREADY OCCURRED WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 3 INCHES 
POSSIBLE. THE HEAVIEST RAINS SHOULD REMAIN CONFINED TO PORTIONS OF 
LE FLORE AND PERHAPS SOUTHERN SEBASTIAN COUNTIES THROUGH SUNRISE. 
EXTENSIVE FLOODING HAS BEEN REPORTED IN TALIHINA...WITH WATER 
ENTERING NUMEROUS BUILDINGS AND SEVERAL ROAD CLOSURES. THIS IS A 
VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

RUNOFF FROM THIS EXCESSIVE RAINFALL WILL CAUSE FLASH FLOODING TO
OCCUR. SOME LOCATIONS THAT WILL EXPERIENCE FLASH FLOODING INCLUDE...
CEDARVILLE...FORT SMITH...POTEAU...SALLISAW...VAN BUREN...ALMA...
ARKOMA...BARLING...BENGAL...BLOOMER...BOKOSHE...BONANZA...BRUSHY...
BRUSHY LAKE STATE PARK...BURNVILLE...CAMERON...DYER...EXCELSIOR...
FANSHAWE...FIGURE FIVE...FORT SMITH REGIONAL AIRPORT...GANS...
GREENWOOD...HACKETT...HARTFORD...HEAVENER...HEAVENER RUNESTONE STATE
PARK...HOWE...HUNTINGTON AND JENNY LIND.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD TO
UNKNOWN DEPTHS. IT ONLY TAKES TWO FEET OF RUSHING WATER TO CARRY AWAY
MOST SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND PICKUPS. TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO
REACH YOUR DESTINATION OR WAIT UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES. REMEMBER...
MOST FLOOD RELATED DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES.

BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS AT NIGHT WHEN IT IS HARDER TO RECOGNIZE THE
DANGERS OF FLOODING. IF FLASH FLOODING IS OBSERVED ACT QUICKLY. DO
NOT ENTER THE WATER. TURN AROUND AND MOVE UP TO HIGHER GROUND TO
ESCAPE FLOOD WATERS. DO NOT STAY IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING WHEN
WATER BEGINS RISING.

&&

LAT...LON 3515 9414 3510 9414 3507 9425 3496 9424
      3492 9444 3472 9445 3469 9510 3487 9506
      3487 9502 3493 9504 3498 9493 3521 9492
      3521 9482 3564 9485 3563 9407 3546 9405
      3542 9408 3522 9408 3521 9403 3514 9403

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tulsa, OK issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 20, 12:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTSASebastian33 min
May 20, 2:59 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAFranklin4 hr
May 20, 4:25 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSACrawford, Sebastian41 hr
May 20, 5:01 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSACrawford, Franklin, Sebastian4 hr
May 20, 6:52 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAFranklin2 hr
May 20, 8:13 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSAFranklin, Johnson, Logan7 days
May 20, 8:54 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTSACrawford, Franklin, Sebastian24 hr
May 19, 10:38 PM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAHaskell, Latimer, McIntosh, Muskogee, Pittsburg, Sequoyah6 hr
May 19, 11:23 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTSAHaskell37 min
May 20, 12:03 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTSALeFlore42 min
May 20, 12:23 AM CDTFlash Flood WarningTSAChoctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Pittsburg, Pushmataha6 hr
May 20, 1:29 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTSALeFlore31 min
May 20, 2:21 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSAPushmataha9 days
May 20, 2:27 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementTSAPushmataha48 min
May 20, 3:36 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSALeFlore39 hr
May 20, 3:36 AM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSALeFlore15 days
May 20, 4:26 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTSAHaskell, Latimer, McIntosh, Muskogee, Pittsburg, Sequoyah12 hr
May 20, 6:26 AM CDTAreal Flood WarningTSAChoctaw, Latimer, LeFlore, Pittsburg, Pushmataha36 hr
May 20, 2:04 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningTSAChoctaw19 days

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Oklahoma, 2015Flash Flood Warnings in Arkansas, 2015Every flash flood warning in 2015

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.